orientation
noun
ori·en·ta·tion
ˌȯr-ē-ən-ˈtā-shən 
-ˌen-
plural orientations
1
a
: the act or process of orienting or of being oriented
These materials are for the orientation of new employees.
b
: the state of being oriented
the orientation of the main altar of the church
2
a
: a usually general or lasting direction of thought, inclination, or interest
the fundamentally human orientation of Greek art—
Bruce Cole
Bruce ColeThis company has a decidedly conservative orientation.
b
: a person's sexual identity or self-identification as bisexual, straight, gay, lesbian, pansexual, etc. : the state of being bisexual, straight, gay, lesbian, pansexual, etc. : sexual orientation
3
: change of position by organs, organelles, or organisms in response to external stimulus
The plant's orientation is toward light.
orientationally
adverb
Examples of orientation in a Sentence
These materials are used for the orientation of new employees.
They identified as bisexual in orientation.
The organization has a decidedly conservative orientation.
Her later works were more introspective in orientation.
New students need to go through a short orientation before they begin classes.
Recent Examples on the Web
This unhelpful orientation meant, however, that the lander could not generate power due to the position of its solar arrays and saw the mission end just a day after touchdown.
—Andrew Jones, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2025
The structure of its web varies throughout the year, with changes in its angle, height above the ground, line density and magnetic orientation, all influenced by seasonal shifts.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
For a director who worships at the altar of George Miller, Bong deliberately denies both the viewer and the camera a clear sense of spatial orientation.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 7 Mar. 2025
Transitioning from one gravity to another, such as from earth's gravity to weightlessness, can affect spatial orientation, head-eye and hand-eye coordination, balance and locomotion, and may cause space motion sickness, according to NASA.
—Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for orientation
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Andrew Jones, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2025
The structure of its web varies throughout the year, with changes in its angle, height above the ground, line density and magnetic orientation, all influenced by seasonal shifts.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
For a director who worships at the altar of George Miller, Bong deliberately denies both the viewer and the camera a clear sense of spatial orientation.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 7 Mar. 2025
Transitioning from one gravity to another, such as from earth's gravity to weightlessness, can affect spatial orientation, head-eye and hand-eye coordination, balance and locomotion, and may cause space motion sickness, according to NASA.
—Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for orientation
Cite this Entry
“Orientation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orientation. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
orientation
noun
ori·en·ta·tion
ˌōr-ē-ən-ˈtā-shən
ˌȯr-ē-ˌen-
1
a
: the act or process of orienting or of being oriented
b
: the state of being oriented
2
a
: a usually general or lasting direction of thought, inclination, or interest
b
: a person's sexual identity or self-identification
bisexual in orientation
3
: change of position by a cell or organism or by one of their parts in response to outside stimulus
Medical Definition
orientation
noun
ori·en·ta·tion
ˌōr-ē-ən-ˈtā-shən, ˌȯr-, -ˌen-
2
: a usually general or lasting direction of thought, inclination, or interest see sexual orientation
3
: change of position by organs, organelles, or organisms in response to external stimulus
4
: awareness of the existing situation with reference to time, place, and identity of persons
psychological orientation
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share